‘Affluenza’ Teen’ Nabbed In Mexico But Refuses To Self-Deport (VIDEO)

Proving that all the money in the world cannot buy common sense, the “Affluenza Kid” Ethan Couch and his enabling mother Tonya were caught in Puerto Vallarta, a popular resort city in Mexico. The mother and son entered Mexico as tourists and exceeded their allowed length of stay, and were turned over to the immigration authorities.

Ethan Couch was on juvenile probation after killing four people and severely injuring two others in a 2013 drunk driving accident. As punishment for the murders and injuries, the Texas court system gave him a “slap on the wrist” sentence — time in a rehabilitation center and probation — saying that Couch was basically a spoiled brat with “affluenza” who had never been properly disciplined and didn’t know right from wrong. In other words, the Texas court system helped perpetuate the problem.

On December 14, Tarrant county Sheriff Dee Anderson issued a warrant for the arrest of Ethan Couch, 18. After his probation officer was unable to reach Couch –- going by his home and stating that it looked empty -– the warrant was issued.

It is speculated that Ethan Couch violated the terms of his probation after a video of what appeared to be Couch participating in a beer pong game, popped up on social media. Ethan Couch is still under the legal drinking age in Texas, plus drinking would violate the terms of his probation. Apparently, rehab didn’t take. Here’s the video:

After the video went viral, Ethan and Tonya Couch allegedly decided to flee the country. There are even rumors of a going away party being held in their honor prior to their departure.

Just as law enforcement officials expected, Ethan Couch and his mother Tonya absconded to Mexico. They were found on Dec. 28, after moving from a luxury resort to less than opulent accommodations. According to the police report issued by the Jalisco state prosecutors’ office, one of the Couches’ telephones had been used to order delivery from Domino’s Pizza to a condominium complex in Puerto Vallarta’s old town.

Ethan Couch and his mother “were confusing about their names and mentioned they had no identification and no immigration documents,” the report said.

This led agents from the prosecutors’ office to the resort complex, where a tourism operator told them that the people who had occupied the condo were asked to vacate because the owners were coming to stay, the report said. The Couches then moved to an apartment, and the agents set up a surveillance operation in the surrounding streets.

Dec.28, detectives approached two people on a street matching the Couches’ description. The police report said they showed an “evasive attitude,” gave inconsistent stories about their names and failed to provide proof of their legal migratory status in Mexico. After being taken into custody, mother and son were held at the immigration offices in Guadalajara. On Dec. 29, Ricardo Vera, a representative in Jalisco for Mexico’s National Institute of Immigration said the Couches would be “deported voluntarily.”

“Their wish is to return to the state of Texas. This is what they have requested.”

Since then, Tonya and Ethan have apparently changed their minds about the voluntary deportation.

Ethan Couch’s mom must have hired a smart deportation lawyer.

According to a report by CNN, Ethan Couch and his mother are fighting to delay their “voluntary” deportation to Texas from Mexico, Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson said Dec. 30.

Ethan Couch — or, more likely, an attorney hired for him — has filed a court action to delay his return, Anderson said. The pair had been expected to come back to the United States Dec. 30, but it now appears they’re trying to stall the process. Sheriff Anderson said he did not have details on the court action but explained he had been told by U.S. Marshals Service that Ethan Couch would not be returning on Dec. 30.

Under the stipulations of Ethan Couch’s original, juvenile sentence, violating his probation by fleeing to Mexico may only earn Couch a maximum of 120 days in jail, said Tarrant County District Attorney Sharen Wilson.

Couch effectively would start with a clean slate in the adult probation system. As a result, the adult court judge could not punish Couch for violations he committed as a juvenile.

The maximum sentence he could get would be 120 days. But if he is treated as a juvenile, the sentence would be even lighter, Wilson said.

Sheriff Anderson and D.A. Wilson want to transfer Ethan Couch’s sentence from the juvenile system to the adult courts. Even if his time behind bars is short, the requirements for probation as an adult are much more strict.

If Couch’s case is transferred to the adult system and he ends up on adult probation and violates that, he could face up to 40 years in prison, according to D.A. Wilson.

Tonya Couch will be charged with hindering the apprehension of a juvenile, and if convicted, faces between two and 10 years in jail.

Here’s the video from Fox5 , with the report on Ethan Couch and his mother Tonya’s attempt to evade justice and the consequences of his drunk driving accident.